Manhattan Music: A Performance Festival - 1998 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 8

Soprano Johanna Rusanen, in her Carnegie Hall debut, and baritone Takaoki Onishi are the soloists in Kullervo, for which the OSNY will be joined by tenors and basses of the Manhattan School of Music Symphonic Chorus.

 On Wednesday, March 20, 2019, American Composers Orchestra (ACO) celebrates four individuals - true forces of nature - who have effected change in the American musical landscape at its annual Gala: Jon Deak, Founder & Artistic Director of New York Philharmonic's Very Young Composers; violinist Jennifer Koh; composer and conductor Tania Leon; and Frederick Wertheim, ACO Board Chairman. 

National New Play Network, the country's alliance of nonprofit theaters that collaborate in innovative ways to develop, produce, and extend the life of new plays, announces the continuation of three Rolling World Premieres: Apples in Winter by Jennifer Fawcett at Indianapolis's Phoenix Theatre (January 11-27, 2019), Red Bike by Caridad Svich at Know Theatre of Cincinnati (January 11-February 2, 2019), and Gabriel Jason Dean's Heartland at New Repertory Theatre (Watertown: January12-February 9, 2019) and the VORTEX (Austin: January 17-February 9, 2019).

2018 was an amazing year for theatre in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, and if the proposed seasons for area theatres are any indication, 2019 is going to be a great one, too. From classic plays to super contemporary ones, and of course, a decent amount of musicals, this year has a lot for theatregoers to look forward to. Here are some productions I'm particularly excited about in the coming months.

The Minnesota Orchestra performs new orchestral works by seven of today's top emerging composers in its annual Future Classics concert, played under the baton of Music Director Osmo Vanska. For the first time, the concert will feature two soloists: the Orchestra's Assistant Concertmaster Rui Du and pianist Tengku Irfan. The performance, held on Friday, January 18, at 8 p.m., is the capstone of the 16th annual Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute, presented in collaboration with the American Composers Forum. Returning for his fifth year as the director of the Composer Institute is Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts.

From December 20 to 23, La MaMa Experimental Theater in association the GOH Productions will present the fourth annual production of East Village Dance Project's The Shell-Shocked Nut, an alternative Nutcracker set in the East Village, featuring an intergenerational cast of dancers and musicians.  The piece is recommended for family audiences.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the full cast and creative team for Metamorphoses. This co-production with the Guthrie Theater is led by nationally and internationally renowned writer and director Mary Zimmerman.

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, a nonprofit southern California cultural center, is pleased to announce that the headliner of its annual spring benefit dinner is Jane Monheit, a Billboard chart-topping vocalist whose study of the Ella Fitzgerald songbook is unparalleled in contemporary music. The cabaret-style evening features a live performance of Ella Fitzgerald songs by Monheit along with a three-course catered dinner, fine wine and cocktails, and a live auction. An Evening with Jane Monheit is part of the Casa Classic series, which is underwritten by Fluidmaster.

From December 20 to 23, La MaMa Experimental Theater in association the GOH Productions will present the fourth annual production of East Village Dance Project's The Shell-Shocked Nut, an alternative Nutcracker set in the East Village, featuring an intergenerational cast of dancers and musicians.  The piece is recommended for family audiences.

The Morris Choral Society under the baton of Music Director Jason Tramm will present the work of three contemporary composers - all New Jersey residents - in their annual Holiday Concert entitled "Songs Earthly and Divine" December 8 and 9 St. Virgil's Church in Morris Plains.  The concert will feature the New Jersey premiere of R. Wayne Walters, Magnificat and contemporary works which will include David Eddleman's Dai Diddle Dai and Michael John Trotta's Veni, Veni Emmanuel.

Wet Ink Ensemble teams up with renowned trumpeter/composer and longtime collaborator Peter Evans for an evening of sonic adventure today, December 1, 2018 at 8:00pm at St. Peter's Church in Chelsea.

The Morris Choral Society (MCS) will present their annual Holiday Concert entitled "Songs Earthly and Divine" in two performances, Saturday December 8 at 8PM and Sunday December 9 at 3PM at St. Virgil's Parish, 250 Speedwell Avenue in Morris Plains, New Jersey. Tickets range from $25 for General Admission, $20 Seniors (60+) and $15 Students and may be purchased online at www.morrischoralsociety.org .

Wet Ink Ensemble teams up with renowned trumpeter/composer and longtime collaborator Peter Evans for an evening of sonic adventure on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 8:00pm at St. Peter's Church in Chelsea.

"What could be better than a play that asks you to shout? Well, one that asks you to sing. All this fun is part of an updated version of "The Brave Little Tailor"...My son also thought of another reason that Seven in One Blow is the greatest play ever: the actors pass out candy at the end."-The New York Times

Rubicon Theatre Producing Artistic Director KARYL LYNN BURNS today announced programming for the company's JANET AND MARK L. GOLDENSON 2018-2019 Broadway Concert Series. According to Burns, the series offers an opportunity for audiences to enjoy the talents and personal stories and insights of some of the best and brightest concert and cabaret stars of the West End, Broadway and the West Coast.

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces casting for the world premiere of The Steadfast Tin Soldier: A Christmas Pantomime, from the story by Hans Christian Andersen, conceived and directed by Ensemble Member Mary Zimmerman. This family-friendly, holiday show runs November 7, 2018 - January 13, 2019 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. 

Orchestra of St. Luke's Carnegie Hall 32nd-annual series concerts commences this season on October 25 in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, marking the official start of Bernard Labadie's tenure as Principal Conductor of the Orchestra. Bernard Labadie and OSL have chosen Haydn as the theme for his inaugural season, showcasing the Ensemble's strong affinity for this composer. Curated with an eye to interesting musical juxtapositions, the series will offer a variety of perspectives on Haydn's music and influence.  

Tony Award winner Laura Benanti assumes the role of Eliza Doolittle in its award-winning production of Lerner & Loewe's MY FAIR LADY, directed by Bartlett Sher, for a limited engagement beginning tonight, Tuesday, October 23. She is currently scheduled through Sunday, February 17.

The Bessie-award nominated Darrah Carr Dance returns to Irish Arts Center with the premiere of Dancing the Great Arc, a groundbreaking collaboration with trad music duo Dana Lyn & Kyle Sanna.  Performances run from Fri, Oct 26 - Sat, Oct 27 at 8pm, with a matinee on Sat, Oct 27 at 2pm.  Tickets are $30 General; $24 for IAC members; and $15 for children 14 and under for the matinee.  To purchase, call 866-811-4111 or visit www.irishartscenter.org

Orchestra of St. Luke's Carnegie Hall 32nd-annual series concerts commences this season on October 25 in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, marking the official start of Bernard Labadie's tenure as Principal Conductor of the Orchestra. Bernard Labadie and OSL have chosen Haydn as the theme for his inaugural season, showcasing the Ensemble's strong affinity for this composer. Curated with an eye to interesting musical juxtapositions, the series will offer a variety of perspectives on Haydn's music and influence.  

On November 11, 2018, at 22 concerts around the world, 100 works by Polish composers will be performed to mark the 100th anniversary of Polish independence. “100 for 100: Musical Decades of Freedom,” presented in partnership with the Polish Cultural Institute New York, and PWM Edition, features the season-opening concert of the Oratorio Society of New York, at Carnegie Hall that Sunday at 2:00 pm.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop) has announced that Tony Award winner Laura Benanti will assume the role of Eliza Doolittle in its award-winning production of Lerner & Loewe's MY FAIR LADY, directed by Bartlett Sher, for a limited engagement beginning Tuesday, October 23 and currently scheduled through Sunday, February 17, at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). Lauren Ambrose, who originated the role in this production, will play her final performance on Sunday, October 21st before leaving to begin work on M. Night Shyamalan's upcoming Apple series.

This October, 1,000 singers from across New York City's five boroughs will come together on the High Line for the premiere performances of The Mile-Long Opera: a biography of 7 o'clock. Due to overwhelming demand for tickets to the previously announced performances (October 3-7), an encore performance will be added on October 8.Tickets for this additional night will be made available first to members of the public currently on the waitlist, on a first come, first served basis, beginning Thursday, September 27, at noon. Those interested in accessing these tickets may join the waitlist at milelongopera.com. Tickets for The Mile-Long Opera are free, but advance registration is required. A standby line will open 30 minutes prior to the 7:00pm time slot on all performance dates.

The Bessie-award nominated Darrah Carr Dance returns to Irish Arts Center with the premiere of Dancing the Great Arc, a groundbreaking collaboration with trad music duo Dana Lyn & Kyle Sanna.  Performances run from Fri, Oct 26 - Sat, Oct 27 at 8pm, with a matinee on Sat, Oct 27 at 2pm.  Tickets are $30 General; $24 for IAC members; and $15 for children 14 and under for the matinee.  To purchase, call 866-811-4111 or visit www.irishartscenter.org

The Orchestra of St. Luke's (OSL) has announced the launch of the DeGaetano Composition Institute, with the first edition taking place in July 2019 at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music. Four exceptional emerging composers will be selected through a national call-for-scores to workshop new works for chamber orchestra under the leadership of 2019 mentor and composer Anna Clyne. This new initiative was established through a generous gift from the estate of pianist, composer and teacher Robert DeGaetano, and will occur annually each July.